For last six months I have been experiencing a worrying diff/wheel bearing type noise from the rear of my 07. Prior to a trip to the Alps in February and at the annual service I asked my local Indy to investigate.
They checked diff and bearings and came to the conclusion that it was tyre noise as there was very odd tyre wear. The sound was as if I had an oval wheel or wheels at the rear. On a recent couple of trips to Luxembourg it has got worse so today I decided to experiment.
I was sure the noise came from the rear near side so I swapped it with my spare which has barely legal tread.
Result - no more noise, just the the hum of the normal tyre on road.
So what causes this?
Is it that Goodyear have changed the compound or is it the tracking or do all Freelanders suffer this? Tattoos - Why would you choose to look like the wall of a public toilet?

Premature irregular tyre wear patterns caused by incorrect wheel alignment can create this phenomenon! Also certain treat patterns, ie open block patterns are susceptible to this on AWD vehicle. Once a tyre developed this phenomenon you may aswell throw away!
Always get four wheel wheel alignment when new tyres fitted. Unadvisable to rotate tyres either on AWD. MY15
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Just replaced my Wranglers with a new set, and I can turn the stereo down a few notches now!  Steve

2008 TD4 HSE Auto, Zermatt Silver

You lot should feel for me as im down to 2mm  Freelander 57 plate XS Blue Auto

SteveC
Did you replace with Wranglers?
I am thinking of moving away from them after reading all the noise/irregular wear problems.
Not sure what to go for, most of my miles are motorway cruising and I don't drive like I just stole it - been there, done that but now grown up. Tattoos - Why would you choose to look like the wall of a public toilet?

Stuartc wrote:

Premature irregular tyre wear patterns caused by incorrect wheel alignment can create this phenomenon! Also certain treat patterns, ie open block patterns are susceptible to this on AWD vehicle. Once a tyre developed this phenomenon you may aswell throw away!
Always get four wheel wheel alignment when new tyres fitted. Unadvisable to rotate tyres either on AWD.

The Road Toad wrote:

SteveC
Did you replace with Wranglers?
I am thinking of moving away from them after reading all the noise/irregular wear problems.

As a general rule I would always recommend a 4 wheel alignment when fitting new tyres!
The first half of a tyres life is where most wear occurs! Any misaligemt will cause premature, unusual wear(dependant on alignment issue and tyre design) which will lead to premature wear and irregular wear causing noise issues.
It's a small investment to mitigate throwing an expensive tyre away prematurely because of irregular wear!
If you do a lot of off road activity this should be as regular as a service, if not more frequent on higher annual mileage vehicles. MY15
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Understood, thanks!

In my case though they're not new tyres per se - they've been on the car before and done probably 5000 miles. Although they haven't been on for about 18 months, whilst I've been running on 17" wheels with winter tyres.

Having just plasti dipped those 19" I'm nervous about letting any tyre guys anywhere near them, in my (limited) experience they're not particularly gentle or cautious with wheels! And I don't have a feel for how resilient the covering is yet  FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

I had Wranglers on mine from new which were down to about 4mm. When I switched to Goodyear winters last November, I was amazed at how quiet they were in comparison. Come spring I put the Wranglers back on putting the fronts to rear and vice versa and again was staggered at the noise they made.

Now it may just be my imagination, but since the changeover 7 or 8 weeks ago, whilst still noisy, they do not seem quite as loud as they were when they first went on. Maybe they have settled down to their new location, maybe I have just got used to them......who knows

Steve

This is going to sound crazy!!!
Tyres actually have a memory!! This is why I was making the point about the first half life of a tyre being very important. If a tyre is already noisy due to irregular wear it will never improve! And as the first half of your tyre wears the quickest you will have to wear it, literally, for a long time.
I wouldn't advise rotating tyres front to back on AWD for this reason. Won't damage anything but you possibly may run into noise issues, of you can live with that, then it's ok! May I stress that some tyres designs are more prone to this and usually of a block tread pattern or more off-road orientated designs, Wrangler!!!!  MY15
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when I change I will either go for Pirelli or Michelin.
Had enough of these Goodyear's but I am stuck with them for another year or so before they are due for a change.

Had Pirelli Scorpions on my FL1 and they were brilliant even in deep snow and lasted a long time

Michelin latitude Tour and to a slightly lesser degree HP will give you better comfort, noise and mileage benefits than the Pirelli. If it's road holding which is more important go for Pirelli. But this all depends on your rim size choice. latitudes are far more road orientated that the Synchron that preceded them.
I personally preferred the Synchron pattern only because they were far more stiffer construction but also prone to unusual wear on AWD drivetrains. MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
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Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
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Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

I've just got rid off the cheap tyres that were on mine when I got it 6 months ago (performax windforce front , accelera iota rear)

I had the horrible whining noise from the rear & thought it may be the diff , changed the tyres on Tuesday for Goodyear wrangler atsa+ http://www.camskill.co.uk/m56b0s251p120307...se%3A_71dB

Much smoother ride & so quiet & the whine has gone

Congrats
My advice!! Wheel Alignment / 4 wheel - Done???????
Don't rotate tyres.
Make sure if you have a service that you mark each tyre to identify if your repairer has rotated. Advise your preferred servicing agent not to rotate.
All above ok then you'll have noise free driving. MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)